No comments about Aznar: Eight Years As Head of State.

3 comments about The Invention of George Washington.

1. Paul Longmore's book, "The Invention of George Washington" is a wonderful book about the Washington that people have come to know over the years. Longmore looks at Washington's life chronologically and compares it with the image of Washington as the Father of Our Country. Longmore shows that one of the most important people in shaping this image was George Washington himself. Washington was constantly concerned with what others thought of him. He always lived his life as if he were on a stage with the whole world was watching. At many of these points, they were watching. Washington was setting the model for future leaders of the United States as Commander-in-Chief, and ultimately as President. Behind this image of a man doing the best for his country, however, is a man of ambition. Especially as a young man during his days commanding Virginia troops in the French and Indian war, Washington strived for recognition among his fellow colonists and from the British regulars that he was forced to serve under. As Washington matured, he was more successful at curbing this ambition. It was during these years that Washington built his reputation and became known as the Father of Our Country.



2. Paul Longmore's biography of George Washington is a superb book. It portrays Washington as a complex Virginian. Neither a stone-like figure nor an unread hero, Washington becomes an interesting and even vulnerable leader. Well written, Longmore's book is a must for people interested in Washington and in colonial history.



3. Paul Longmore has written an excellent book for the serious George Washington scholar. George Washington is a difficult man to understand. After reading five books on the man, along with several published books and articles on the Revolutionary War, Federalist Period, and biographies of other people who were active in Washington's days, I still have a hard time grasping why such a diverse group of people universally looked up to and respected Washington. Edmund Morgan's book, "The Genius of George Washington" helped me to understand how Washington wielded power once it was attained, and this book helps to fill in the gaps as it describes how George Washington worked his way toward greatness.

   Longmore's argument in the book is that George Washington was FAR from a minor player in his rise to fame. It wasn't through a series of coincidences or through fate that Washington became the very embodiment of the American Revolution and Federalist Era. Longmore argues that Washington had, in his youth, an insatiable lust for power...but would only seek to achieve it through socially respectable means (highly developed interpersonal skills didn't hurt, either). It is through an examination of what constitutes "socially respectable," Washington's writings, and examining the change in his tone as he matures that Longmore bases his premise. In my opinion, he does a very good job of it. His arguments are strong and backed up in an extensive end-notes section. The only problem I have with his research is that I would have liked to see Longmore's view on two major incidences that happened in Washington's early life and how they affected his rise to fame: the death of his older brother/patron Lawrence; and his marriage to the filthy rich widow, Martha Custis. In all, Longmore has written an excellent book that I would recommend to anyone who would like to begin a serious study of the early life of the "First in War, First in Peace, First in the Hearts of his Countrymen."

   By the way, this is not a cradle-to-grave biography of Washington, but follows his life from birth until about the time he takes command of the Continental Army.

No comments about George Washington in and As Culture: Bicentenary Explorations (Ams Studies in the Eighteenth Century).

2 comments about Remembering Reagan.

1. I have been enough lucky and privilged to get the book in Simi Valley at Reagan Library Gift Shop! Then I have been asked by many friends of mine to get the book and they are all so thrilled and happy to have the book. If you failed to get some Reagan videos, then this book should enter your library and will give you some brief impression about those video titles. The life of President is fully illustrated and the book is just a beauty for your coffee table. Many friends of mine come and look through the pages and they become very thrilled when they turn over the last page. I am wondered that the book is available online as it was not before. So, do not waste time and get it NOW!!!



2. The stature and legacy of the Presidency of Ronald Reagan continues to grow and strengthen. His critics went into apoplectic fits when he won the Presidency, they sputtered in consternation during his two terms, and continue to rage against him even after his death. Many books have been written about him and trees continue to be felled to publish new books about him. Some of the books are good, but many present a false image of Reagan the man and the President. The problem is that the rising generation has no direct memory of his time in office and is held captive by the information passed on to them in the various media.
   
   This beautiful and well done book should be provided to every young person so they can get a proper notion of what was so special about Reagan and what he accomplished. Unfortunately, most of what they get in the popular media is the derision and contumely smeared on the name of Reagan. Even some who claim to support the Reagan legacy are co-opting the glow of the name without being factual about what they are supporting.
   
   "Remembering Reagan" is full of great images that help us remember what a special time those two terms were. The text is honest about what happened and all the issues that filled his eight years serving our country as Commander-in-Chief. When you see the great pictures here you will wonder why the media relies on such weak pictures of Reagan. Well, we know why, but their biased agenda becomes that much more obvious after looking through this volume.
   
   I would be happy to have my children learn about President Reagan from this book. It may not be the only book you want them to read or read yourself, but I contend that you won't have a complete picture of this man until you also go through this fine book. It is here you will get a sense of the energy, strength, presence, stature, dedication, quiet wisdom, and vast ability of one of our great Presidents.

5 comments about JFK: Remembering Jack hc*OP*.

1. jfk remembreing jack is good tribut to jfk.
   there are some rare pictures and anecdotes.
   there is a cd too. we can heard jfk at 23 and john-john speaking to his father.
   but there is not a biography, so if you want to know more about him buy another book.
   soif you are a kennedy fan or not buy it1



2. A wonderful pictorial of a brave man.
   No one is asking you to feel sorry for the Kennedys. But they do deserve respect. Yes, they could have lived long lives and grown full heads of grey hair if they had gone "with the flow" but instead they were killed for standing up for what they believed in.
   Brave people truly live Life while alive, more so in one year than cowards do in a lifetime.

   "Speak not evil of the absent: it is unjust."
   ~George Washington




3. With the purchase of this book, you get not only great pictures of the Kennedy's, but also a wonderful 60 minute CD with some of Kennedy's greatest press conferences, speeches and some phone conversations. This alone is a seller for this book. Bringing back JFK, if only for a few moments is awsome. He did things his way, you hear his conviction and beliefs in his voice, and his choice to follow those beliefs, is awe inspiring.

   I reccomend along with this book and CD the purchase of the book, "John Fitzgerald Kennedy: A Life In Pictures". They are superb together and what I feel to be 2 of the best 40th Anniversary Commemorative books on JFK.




4. This book is truly a wonderful tribute to JFK.

   Greetings from Canada from a Canadian who wants to honor the memory of President John F. Kennedy.

   Kennedy was my hero when I was a 12-year-old boy, and 40 years later, President Kennedy is a true hero in the heart of a 52-year-old man.

   It seems hard to believe that 40 years have gone by since that very tragic day of Friday, Nov. 22, 1963. The day John F. Kennedy died, I shed tears and felt the world had lost a truly wonderful and remarkable leader.

   In the 40 years since the death of President Kennedy, I have built up a collection of books, photographs and political buttons from Kennedy's campaign for president in 1960. On my office wall hangs a large campaign poster with a larger-than-life photograph with a caption that reads: "A Time for Greatness" - John F. Kennedy for President. On my desk is a bust of President Kennedy. It is my way of honoring his memory and legacy.

   President Kennedy offered America and the world hope and a vision of greatness. He had courage and, like (those portrayed in) his book "Profiles in Courage," he was indeed a man of courage.

   Over the years, I had the honor to shake the hand of Robert F. Kennedy and U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, and in 1989, I spent a whole day at the John F. Kennedy Museum in Boston, where I had the honor of spending time with one of John F. Kennedy's closest friends - David Powers. Mr. Powers shared with me some wonderful memories of JFK.

   These encounters with history have reinforced my heartfelt belief that John F. Kennedy was truly a wonderful and remarkable world leader.

   Back in December of 1974, on a cold morning, I made the trip to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the grave of President Kennedy. Though it was early and cold, I was moved by the line-up of people filing past President Kennedy's grave. Thousands of people like myself were moved by the life and times of a leader gunned down in the streets of Dallas.

   Forty years have not changed my affection and admiration for President John F. Kennedy; he has a special place in my heart.

   Michael McCafferty lives in Regina, Saskatchewan




5. I first happened to see the book at a local grocery store. It was so small and thin that I didn't even give it a second look. Even though I am a great Kennedy fan. However, at Christmas, my youngest son, gave the book to me as a gift. I smiled and thanked him and thought that I would look at it just to please him. But then I found the cd that came along with the book and it was incredible. In 1940 JFK tells a radio audience that if America didn't start re-arming we would be caught off guard the same as london was. What an incredible foresight he had. The other selections on the cd are well worth listening too. Including JFK reciting an autobiographical segment, handling a stubborn southern governor regarding James Merridith, and an adorable exchange between President Kennedy and his 2 year old son.

5 comments about Deserter: Bush's War on Military Families, Veterans, and His Past.

1. Kerry released his service records in April. If you have an IQ above that of a post, figure it out.



2. I read the book in one day and at the end of it was absolutely astonished at how much we ignored the horrible lies of George W. Bush, who successfully managed to pursuade Americans that he is a war hero.
   
   It is no secret that George W. Bush wanted a war. He wanted to be a war president. He wanted to be a commander-in-chief. But in fact he is a deserter. While himself dodging the war which he supported, he sent thousands of Americans to fight in Iraq. He has no respect for those who are unfortunate to be serving under his command.
   
   This is not a mere hatchet job, it is a well documented analysis. Ian Williams has put the facts together to draw the real face of the "commander-in-chief".



3. This book is excellent. My husband, who's recently retired from the military, and I bought this because of Dubya's flip-flopping on his record. Although a lot seems to be missing (like the DD-214 all of us get when we get out--I have mine), it's still revealing. We're an Air Force family and have known many, many pilots over the years and they take great pride in their flying status and would not miss their annual, required flight physicals for anything.
   
   Too bad the media can't give the same coverage of this like they did the Monica thing. Young men and women are dying while I type this, but hey, let's keep our priorities straight. Since when was it moral to send people to their deaths with lies? Especially when the same people perpetrating these horrible sins were hiding and ensuring they saved their worthless hides while shirking their duty during Viet Nam.
   
   An excellent book for anyone who really cares for our military personnel and their families.



4. Ian Williams has been all over the media lately after it was revealed by Accuracy in Media -- and Williams doesn't deny it-- that he had been taking money from the UN while covering the UN for The Nation and other media. Williams went on the O'Reilly
   Factor and said he saw no ethical issue with that blatant violation of journalism ethics.
   
   Then came revelations in Accuracy in Media and Front Page Magazine that his wife, who can't even work in the U.S. legally, got a job at a journalism organization where Williams has clout.
   
   Given his shamelessness, this tired rehash of previously published allegations against Bush is even more disgusting. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.



5. My only problem with William's book is he fails to discuss that Bush was the most decorated pilot in the Alabama National Guard. Junior was awarded the Yellow Strips four times for going AWOL beyond the call of duty. But seriously, Bush does not even posses the courage to last one mere day of service in the Girl Scouts. The book is a must for any Nam Vet.

2 comments about MARGARET THATCHER: IRON LADY VOL 2.

1. While she was still Leader of the Opposition, Margaret Thatcher paid a visit to Yugoslavia, where she had a meeting with President Tito. The conversation turned to China, where Chairman Mao's widow had recently been stirring up trouble for the leadership. Tito remarked that he disapproved of women interfering in politics. "I don't interfere in politics, " declared his guest, eyes ablazing, "I AM politics."
   
   Therein can be found both the secret of Margaret Thatcher's success and the seeds of her downfall. Her supreme confidence helped overcome widespread doubts that a woman could lead her party and her country, but in the end her arrogance alienated the very people she needed to retain power.
   
   Thatcher's story presents a unique challenge to political biographers, largely because her overpowering personality and strident views make a fair assessment difficult to achieve. The writer has to tread a fine line between hagiography and demolition job. Happily, John Campbell's book manages to avoid these pitfalls, and his account of Thatcher's life and times is even-handed, thorough and highly readable. The first volume
   of Campbell's biography - The Grocer's Daughter - covered Thatcher's early life and career, concluding with her arrival on the threshold of Number Ten. This second volume concentrates on her entire eleven-and-a-half years as mistress of Downing Street, as well as the aftermath of her removal from power.
   
   The first thing to say is that it's a huge read - over 800 pages. But this is no more than the subject deserves, given Thatcher's dominance, not only in her role as Prime Minister, but also as an inveterate meddler in the work of her ministers. From health and education to local government finance and foreign affairs, there was barely an aspect of policy which Margaret Thatcher did not seek to influence.
   
   All the important events of her premiership are there - the three election victories, the Falkands, Westland, the miners' strike, the Poll Tax, and her dramatic departure at the hands of her own party. But the book goes beyond the big stories to put her premiership in a wider context. Take housing: Campbell shows that Thatcher's policy of encouraging council tenants to buy their own homes, while prohibiting local authorities from building new houses with the proceeds, led to a massive shortage of affordable housing, and by extension to the high
   numbers of homeless people still seen on British streets today.
   
   Campbell's thorough research shines brilliantly throughout the book, but U.S. readers may find this depth of detail just too much information to take in. During some passages, even my eyes started to glaze over at so many references to obscure events and personalities from Britain's political past.
   
   Of greater interest may be the sections covering Thatcher's dealings with Ronald Reagan. Thatcher apologists often claim that Britain's standing in the world grew taller as a result of her strong support for the U.S. President. But Campbell makes good use of Reagan's archival papers to reveal the true relationship of these political soulmates.
   
   While they undoubtedly got on well, the President rarely let their friendship get in the way of his policy objectives. Thatcher believed they were working as partners to save the world from tyranny, but Reagan failed to consult her even on such important matters as the invasion of Grenada (a British Commonwealth territory) or his suggestion to Mikhail Gorbachev at the Reykjavik summit that the US and USSR should abolish
   all nuclear weapons. Even so, Thatcher never lost an opportunity to catch the presidential ear. Campbell recounts Reagan breaking off from one of her many telephone rants to observe: "Isn't she marvellous!"
   
   One of the most enjoyable sections of the book focuses on the burnishing of the Thatcher image, especially in the later years of her premiership. Campbell documents the change from the clothing of a "middle-class mimsy" to the power-shoulders of a leading lady, and her increasingly imperial airs. The regal touch was most memorably on show when she emerged from Number 10 to announce "We have become a grandmother." But
   the author also offers a reminder of her qualities as a consummate actress. In 1990 she delivered a conference speech in which she compared the new bird of freedom logo for the Liberal Democratic Party to the dead parrot from the Monty Python sketch. She had never seen the routine, but delivered it with perfect timing to laughter and cheers from her audience. The following month, she was an ex-Prime Minister.
   
   Margaret Thatcher's fall from power was pure political theatre, and those of us who watched it unfold on our television screens will never forget those dramatic days. The big question in my mind was: could Campbell's account rise to the occasion? The answer: a resounding yes. Every twist and turn of the spectacle is followed, without recourse to melodrama or purple prose, and what could easily have been a disappointing damp squib of a section turns out to be a fine account of a political career in meltdown.
   
   For me, the most intriguing part of the book describes Thatcher's life after leaving Number 10. Politically-speaking, she was dead in the water - there is no role in the British constitution for an unemployed prime minister. But Campbell is astute enough to highlight the human aspects of her new situation. Only days earlier, she was being feted by
   President Mitterrand at Versailles. Now, shorn of the Downing Street machine, she had difficulty even using the telephone to find a plumber. Thatcher's refusal to adapt to her new situation caused her successor much grief, and the book relates the despair which John Major felt at her off-stage sniping , especially when he was trying to rebuild bridges
   to Britain's European partners.
   
   Having already documented the lives of two former Prime Ministers - Lloyd George and Edward Heath - Campbell is able to view the Thatcher years with a historical perspective. The conclusion of this book, however, is disappointing. A work of this magnitude deserves a resounding finale, but instead it runs into the sand, offering little more than a couple of pages to sum up Thatcher's impact. It's not a bad ending, but I feel that the author could have done justice to the rest
   of the book by bringing together more effectively the various strands of Thatcher's life.
   
   That said, the book is a masterpiece of political biography,
   meticulously researched and written in that enviable style which both informs and entertains. It may be too soon to call it the definitive biography of Britain's first woman prime minister, but the next time an author sets out to write Margaret Thatcher's premiership, this is the first book they should turn to.



2. The mid-90's pop band Spice Girls called the ultimate Girl Power as Margaret Thatcher. The British singers were on the money because Thatcher was a revolutionary Prime Minister. She kept her own counsel and could not be manipulated by the popularity polls. This account of her political career is the ultimate study in what Henry Kissinger once said "power is the ultimate aphrodisiac". Churchill and Thatcher proved that Britain produced two formidable leaders who survived Machiavellian daggers over and over again and got their way before being ousted.

1 comments about Confessions of a Bumbling Sex Addict.

1. Arthur Elmo Jackson needs to get in touch with me so I can turn this into a movie!!! This has such potential for the big-screen.
   
   Great writing!

3 comments about In the Days of McKinley.

1. Like him or not, Margaret Leech's Pulitzer-winning biography of William McKinley is an excellent overall view of the life and times of the 25th President of the United States.
   

   Her style is engrossing, even when her subject is not. It's a fascinating look at the United States at the turn of the previous century, a nation on the verge of becoming a world power.
   




2. Less than 50 pages are dedicated to Mckinley's childhood, schooling, Civil War days, and his rise in Ohio from a struggling attorney to a Congressman then state gov. The remaining 550 pages deal with the detailed issues of his presidency and some portions (such as several long chapters about Cuba & the Philippines) do not even mention him. Fortunately, his presidency with the various wars, his wife's condition, thru his assination makes this detailed account worthwhile. However, if you are like me & find the struggles of the person before the presidency (especially those with war experience) interesting, you will be somewhat dissappointed in the lack of info. here.



3. The title of "In The Days Of McKinley" is very descriptive. Although it contains much biographical material, it is not a true biography. It does tell much about the stage on which William McKinley played.
   
   McKinley rose to national prominence by becoming an expert on the tariff. In congress he was known as the technical master of customs duties. How he used this expertise to propel himself to the post of Governor of Ohio is a puzzlement, but it does reflect the immense importance of tariff policy in an era when elections were fought over protection and when most federal revenue was derived from the tariff.
   
   Much of the book tells the story of aspects of public life in which McKinley participated. A major portion of the book deals with the Spanish American War. Here one sees McKinley among those presidents whose administrations were transformed by events from a domestic focus into one dominated by martial exploits. I have studied much about the Spanish American War (see my Listmania, "Remember The Maine, To Hell With Spain" and my Amazon Reviews, A Ship To Remember, Colonel Roosevelt, The Rough Riders, An Army For Empire and Little Brown Brothers) but this book provides a unique perspective on the war. Here the focus is on the role of the president in the decision to go to war and its subsequent prosecution. On these pages we see the veteran who had learned to hate war being drawn into a war despite all of his efforts to avoid it. In some parts the narration of the war almost makes the reader forget that McKinley was involved. Even so, it places some aspects of the war, such as the exploits of the Rough Riders, into a perspective of the greater conflict which is lacking in some works. With war a reality, the president became actively involved in the need to equip the army, decide on the targets of attack and the peace negotiations. All of these aspects receive ample attention from the author.
   
   With the conclusion of the war, the controversy over the disposition of the captured islands became a focus of public debate and a major issue in the 1900 election. William Jennings Bryan's "mixed messages" to use a recent term, are contrasted to McKinley's consistency. The decision to "Take whatever we can and to keep whatever we want" would have profound implications for the U. S. and the world. McKinley's self image as God's chosen instrument would be echoed in some of his successors.
   
   In an era when vice-presidents were rarely heard, McKinley's first Veep. Garrett Hobart, was a close friend who played a surprisingly important role in the administration, leading its programs through the Senate and carrying out special assignments. With Hobarts' death the selection of a second term running mate became a major event in McKinley's career and, with the nomination of Theodore Roosevelt, in the life of the nation.
   
   
   Through the chapters of this book, author Margaret Leech gives the reader an excellent study of themes in the history of McKinley's days. In so doing she does not neglect McKinley himself. She shows how he was and remained a product of Nineteenth Century Ohio where he was born and lived his life. She tells of McKinley's service in the Union Army, during which he reached the rank of Major before returning to Ohio to undertake legal studies. Settling in Canton, he rose steadily in his career and in public esteem.
   
   Leech tells the tender love story of McKinley and his wife, Ida, whose neurological disorder would be a constant concern throughout their married life. He learned to cope with her frequent seizures without interrupting the routine of the day, while always placing Ida first in his heart. It is amazing that he accomplished what he did with the limitations imposed by Ida's infirmity. He comes across as a highly successful man who kept his priorities in order.
   
   This book has been described as a first rate book about a second rate president. While you read it you will understand why it made Margaret Leech the first woman to win two Pulitzer prizes. From it I acquired a respect for McKinley as a president who successfully confronted a variety of complex issues. I think that he successfully advanced the interests of his country and followed practices which serve as good models for others. Read it and formulate your own rating of McKinley.

2 comments about The Last Empress: The She-Dragon of China.

1. Keith Laidler's "The Last Empress" is not as bad as all that, even if his background as a writer of popular fiction does shine through here and there.
   Mr Laidler writes in a nice, fluid prose style, and there are numerous footnotes and many generally well-chosen quotes. But there are certainly drawbacks, too, although I think two stars is a little too harsh.
   
   "The Last Empress" is the story of Wang Xiaoqian, a young girl born in 1834 or 1835 in a village called Xipo. She joined the harem of the Xianfeng emperor at the age of 16 or 17, and bore him a son who became the Tongzhi emperor. During the boy's minority (he was only five when his father died), his mother reigned with a firm hand, and she continued to do so more or less until her death in 1908. You may have seen her portrayed with eerie charisma by actress Lisa Lu in a brief but memorable scene in Bernardo Bertolucci's classic "The Last Emperor".
   
   Now, this sounds like an exciting story, right? Well, it is, and Keith Laidler tells it well, but he does rely an awful lot on anecdotal "evidence", and, in some cases, pure speculation.
   And he constantly refers to the empress dowager as "Yehonala", as though this was her first name, when it was in fact the name of the clan into which she was adopted as a young girl. "Yeho-Nala", usually romanized as "Yehe-Nara", is not a given name, but rather like a surname (her actual name, post-adoption, was Yehe-Nara Yulan, that is "Yulan of the Yehe-Nara clan").
   That annoyed me a first, until I got used to it. Especially because everybody in the Western world who has ever heard of "the western empress dowager", as she was called, probably know her as Cixi, or, in Wade-Giles' more pronouncement-friendly romanization, Tzu Hsi ("T'soo Shee"). That is "motherly auspicious" or "august mother".
   
   But I'm losing my train of thought here. Again, as I said, the book is well-written and quite exciting, but unfortunately it is of doubtful historical value. Nobody really knows how the young Yulan became the emperor's favorite lover, but Keith Laidler makes up a fanciful story about her astounding abilities in bed, which is one of the low points of the book.
   And there are few surprising mistakes as well, such as Mr Laidler's claim that "she (Tzu Hsi) came as close as any woman in Chinese history to ascending the Dragon Throne".
   Honestly! If you're interested in Chinese history, you must read up on the fascinating story of the empress Wu Zhao (623 or 625 - 705), who took over the government when her husband, the Gaozong emperor, fell ill in late 660. She ruled "from behind the curtain" (quite literally, since regents traditionally sat behind a yellow curtain right behind the imperial throne and whispered their advise to the emperor) for 23 years until the death of the emperor. Then her son Zhongzong became emperor, but after a short reign his mother swapped him for her younger, and presumably more manageable, son Li Dan, the Ruizong emperor. And finally, in late 690, the old empress dowager deposed him as well, but not, like Tzu Hsi, in favour of a hapless child during whose minority she could continue to rule unopposed. Instead she took the title "Shensheng Huangdi", that is "holy spirit emperor", and ascended the Dragon Throne herself.
   
   Anyway. You should borrow Mr Laidler's book at your local library and give it a try. It's a pretty good read.
   Just don't consider it pure, unadulterated historical fact.



2. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who is visiting China in the near future and wants to learn more about the decline and fall of the last imperial dynasty. I recently visited, and I wish I would have read this book before seeing the Winter Palace and the Forbidden City.
   
   The author is not a historian. This is a good thing. My bookshelf is full of accurate and comprehensive history books, but I wouldn't recommend too many of them to anyone other than historians. Laidler writes in a style that allows the general reader to follow along and actually want to turn the pages to learn more.
   
   I would recommend the book to students of leadership as well as folks who want to learn more about Chinese history. It is a case study in power for the sake of survival and power itself. I wonder how Chinese history of the 1900s might have been different with a different power behind the throne. The ol' "do people make history or does history make people' debate ...
   
   I can't give it five stars. In spots, it reads more like historical fiction than fact. That is okay with me, but I would relegate those speculations to sidebars if this was a magazine rather than a book. Also, the author should use the more commonly accepted name of the main character - my Chinese friends were a bit mystified by my earnest description of the book until I used the commonly used name Cixi. Also, a few maps would help the general reader.
   
   All in all, a very satisfying read. If you are confused by recent Chinese history, then this will fill in a lot of gaps.